Essay Assignment

Essay assignment on City Simulation Game. Due in class Wednesday, February 8th
Choose one of the following topics to write a one page (500 words) essay on:

1) Describe the best strategy for building and managing a successful SimCity.
Students whose comments describe the most thorough and logical strategies will be well rewarded.
Hint: Mention City Management topics like: Balancing the Budget, Controlling Traffic, Providing Power, Controlling Fires, Why Sims like Parks, Providing Public Transportation, Controlling Pollution, Effective Zoning (mixed-use or industry clustering?).

2) SimCity is an imperfect model which simplifies reality. Write a critical essay about what you think the citizens of SimCity (Sims) are like and how they differ from real people in a real city. How does SimCity depict the environment and surrounding hinterland? What are the differences between the way the program works and the way a real city works? Hint: pick a few City Management topics to discuss such as: Balancing the Budget, Controlling Traffic, Providing Power, Controlling Fires, Why Sims like Parks, Providing Public Transportation, Controlling Pollution, Effective Zoning (mixed-use or industry clustering?).

3) SimCity makes you Mayor and City Planner, and dares you to design and build the city of your dreams. . . . Depending on your choices and design skills, Simulated Citizens (Sims) will move in and build homes, hospitals, churches, stores and factories, or move out in search of a better life elsewhere. Write an essay on your experience as Mayor and City Planner. If you started a new city, what were your goals in building a city and what challenges did you face? Why is it so important to think ahead when planning a city that will grow in the future? If you tried one of the scenarios, what problems did you have to solve and how did you deal with them (let me know which scenario you tried).

4) If you have access to a more up to date computer that can run the online City Simulation Game "Electrocity" http://www.electrocity.co.nz , try building a city with it and write an essay comparing this program with the SimCity game you have been using in the computer lab. Hint: pick a few City Management topics to discuss such as: Providing Power/Energy, Controlling Traffic, Providing Public Transportation, Controlling Pollution, Environmental stewardship, etc. In Electrocity you can save your city online and if you use the Teacher Code - AF26628 - you can share your electrocity with me Mr. Alan - just let me know the name of the city you saved.
Here are instructions on how to use the program http://www.electrocity.co.nz/HowToPlay/